Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Consumers: Protection

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to place a cap on the price paid in markets where there are rolling contracts for consumers.

lord henley: The setting of prices is a commercial decision for the companies concerned, provided they comply with general consumer law, which requires that consumers are treated fairly, are not misled and are able to make properly informed choices, between products and between businesses. We have a robust legal framework that provides strong protections for consumers. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out in his recent letter to the Competition and Markets Authority, that we want to see greater enforcement against subscription traps and that ultimately roll-over contracts should be as easy to exit as they are to enter. In the Consumer White Paper, we will consider proposals to strengthen our system of public enforcement of consumer law while maintaining the benefits of the current landscape.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma: Dams

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar about the Myitsone dam project in Kachin State, Burma, published on 8 June, in particular that that dam project would “provoke a humanitarian catastrophe” of forcible displacement, migration and natural disasters; and what representations they are making about the impact of the project with the governments of Burma and China.

baroness goldie: ​The British Government remains concerned about potential risks attached to the Myitsone Dam project. We urge both the Chinese and Burmese governments to ensure that infrastructure projects comply with international norms and standards, including environmental and socials standards and the necessity of consultations with affected communities. It is vital that much needed infrastructure investments deliver sustainable and equitable development impacts for the people of Burma. We have raised this issue with the both the Government of Burma and the Chinese Ambassador to Burma.

Pakistan: Indigenous Peoples

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure (1) the survival of the culture and religion of the Kalash people in Pakistan, and (2) that the members of that community are not forced to convert their religious beliefs.

baroness goldie: The Government continues to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable including minority groups as laid down in the Constitution of Pakistan and in accordance with international standards.The Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the protection of minority religious communities with Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Human Rights Minister during his visit to Pakistan in February.We strongly condemn forced conversion of women and girls from religious minorities in Pakistan and we engage at a senior level on the mistreatment of religious and ethnic groups.

Burma: Christianity

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of,and (2) what representations they made to the government of Burma about, reports from Chin State, Burma, that on 24 and 25 May three Christians in Padekyaw village were forced to sign documents by village officials and local monks verifying their conversion to Buddhism after being threatened with eviction if they refused;that Christians were told they could not live in Hmwar Village Tract; andapublic announcement made in eight villages threatening residents that communicating or trading with Christians would result in a fine.

baroness goldie: ​The British Government has noted the recent report from the China Human Rights Organisation and continues to be concerned by restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, including reports of forced conversions, in Burma. The UK, working with the EU and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, secured a UN Human Rights Council Resolution on 27 September 2018 that called for the amending or repealing of discriminatory provisions of the "protection of race and religion laws" in Burma covering religious conversion, interfaith marriage, monogamy and population control. Our Ambassador met the Burmese Minister for Religious Affairs on 9 August 2018, and underlined the importance of interfaith dialogue.

Sudan: Demonstrations

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports of the role played by the Rapid Support Forces in dispersing protesters in Sudan resulting in deaths in Khartoum and Darfur, what plans they have to reassess the UK’s role on the Steering Committee of the European Commission’s Khartoum Process, including their financial contribution to that Process.

baroness goldie: The purpose of the Khartoum Process is to facilitate an EU-Africa dialogue on managing migration, combatting organised immigration crime and addressing the devastating effects of trafficking in the Horn and North Africa. It is called the Khartoum Process because the agreement was signed in Khartoum but it is not specific to Sudan. It is a regional mechanism for European and Horn of Africa countries to cooperate that is currently Chaired by Eritrea. The UK remains a member of the Steering Committee, which is vital to helping steer this important work.Part of the EU-African joint efforts to tackle organised immigration crime in the Horn of Africa is delivered through the 'Regional Operations Centre Khartoum' (ROCK), to which the UK has contributed funding for a specialist expert in the past. However, due to recent events in Sudan, EU funded work on the ROCK is suspended. Our officials in London, the region and Brussels are in frequent contact with EU partners to ensure that all work in Sudan reflects the current situation, in line with our human rights priorities.

Hong Kong: British Nationals Abroad

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British passport holders are in Hong Kong; and what are their obligations to the holders of such passports.

baroness goldie: ​We do not hold information regarding the number of British passport holders in Hong Kong. Our obligation to all British nationals abroad is set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's publically available guide: 'Support for British nationals abroad'. Some examples of the support we provide to all British nationals abroad include: issuing emergency travel documents, providing local information (details of local lawyers interpreters and doctors), and providing notarial and documentary services.

Press Freedom

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to invite the families of Jamal Khashoggi and Daphne Caruana Galizia to the Global Conference for Media Freedom in July.

baroness goldie: ​As this is the first ever Ministerial gathering on the issue of media freedom we want to make sure that the personal stories of journalists targeted for their work form the centre of the conference. We are therefore making sure that most panels include a journalist with a personal story, or a member of their family. High profile cases, like those of Jamal Khashoggi and Daphne Caruana Galizia will feature, but there are other cases that are less high profile but whose victims also deserve justice.

Press Freedom

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Foreign Secretary at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day in Addis Ababa on 2 May, what action they have taken to (1) "shine a spotlight on abuses" of media freedom in (a) Malta, and (b) Saudi Arabia, and (2) "raise the price for those who would murder, arrest or detain journalists just for doing their jobs" as part of their Media Freedom campaign.

baroness goldie: ​As part of our Media Freedom Campaign we have been working to raise the profile of media freedom across the globe. As an example, many of our posts held events to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. We created a new Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship, enabling 60 African journalists over the next 5 years to gain experience in the newsrooms of Britain's leading media organisations. The Foreign Secretary has appointed Amal Clooney as his Special Envoy on Media Freedom and she is convening a High Level Panel of Legal Experts who will generate increased momentum around the need to amend outdated legislation. We are also building an alliance of likeminded partners who will lobby with us on individual cases.With regards to Malta, we have made clear our position on the tragic death of Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017, that all those responsible must be held to account. We continue to raise this case with the Maltese government and have encouraged engagement with the Media Freedom campaign and its aim to increase the protection of journalists worldwide. On Saudi Arabia, we remain concerned about deterioration in freedom of expression and freedom of the press. We work closely with the Saudi Arabian government on issues related to media freedom. We also raise individual cases of detained journalists with Saudi counterparts. The UK has condemned Jamal Khashoggi's killing in the strongest possible terms. Anyone found responsible for any offence must be held fully accountable.

Philippines: Press Freedom

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make representations to the government of the Philippines on (1) establishing an independent investigation into the killing of Adam Moraleta in Quezon City, on 6 June, and (2) the number of journalists who have been killed in that country since 1986; and what assessment they have made of the number of journalists killed in that country.

baroness goldie: We have not made representations on the case of the death of Adam Moraleta due to the ongoing investigation by the Philippines authorities.Accurate historical figures for the number of journalists killed in the Philippines are difficult to ascertain. Estimates from NGOs vary between 82 killings since 1992 and 185 killings since 1986.In recognition of the threat journalists face globally, the Foreign Secretary launched a Global Media Freedom campaign to shine a spotlight on the issue and raise the cost to those who target journalists.The UK remains concerned about reports of human rights abuses in the Philippines, including the treatment of journalists and land rights campaigners. The Rt Hon Mark Field MP raised these concerns with Philippines Ministers, including the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano, during his visit to Manila in August 2018.

Developing Countries: Prostitution

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to share best practice on reducing sex tourism in developing countries, and in addressing corruption linked to sex work and slavery.

baroness goldie: ​The illicit sex trade is closely linked to modern slavery, and the fight against modern slavery is one of the foreign policy priorities of this government. The UK is in the forefront of the international efforts to combat modern slavery, including sexual exploitation, and this government has committed over £200 million of UK Aid to this end. We work in partnership with host governments, where appropriate, to help them strengthen their domestic legislation, to build capacity in their law enforcement authorities, and to raise awareness among vulnerable communities.We take the question of illegal sex tourism by UK nationals overseas very seriously, and Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 also allows for the prosecution of UK nationals/residents who sexually abuse or exploit children, wherever in the world they commit these acts. Combatting criminal offending and safeguarding of victims is almost always best achieved through local intervention and local support mechanisms. However, where there is a safeguarding issue or an ongoing risk to children, proceedings can be brought in England and Wales against the individual, regardless of whether the local authorities have sought to bring such action.Our network of tri-departmental Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office and the Department For International Development Serious and Organised Crime Regional Coordinators, and National Crime Agency officers posted overseas, work closely with their host governments in the fight against all forms of organised crime, including child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). The network's aim is to fuse and enhance the response to transnational serious and organised crime. The Government is also enhancing its understanding of the nature and impact of international illicit finance (including corruption), demonstrating the UK's global leadership in tackling it. We will engage with partner governments to build both the political will and the capability to tackle this threat. In addition, as part of the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2022, we are taking forward a wide range of programmes and initiatives to tackle corruption internationally.

Mauritius: Diplomatic Service

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the lunch traditionally hosted by the British High Commissioner in Mauritiusto celebrate the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen did not take place this year.

baroness goldie: ​Queen's Birthday Parties are a celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday. They are an opportunity to celebrate the relationships between the UK and other countries. Coming so soon after the unjustified and incendiary remarks made about the UK by the Mauritian Prime Minister, it did not feel appropriate to hold an event in Mauritius this year.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to reach an agreement with the government of Mauritius over the future of the Chagos Archipelago; and what consideration they have given to appointing an independent panel to lead exploratory negotiations about any such agreement.

baroness goldie: ​We remain disappointed that this matter was referred to the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly. We have no doubt about our sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. The UK values its long standing relationship with Mauritius and is keen to continue to engage productively on this issue.

Palestinians: Cemeteries

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the government of Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority is annexing land in the Palestinian Bab Al-Rahma cemetery and is digging up Palestinian graves in preparation for building a national park; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel about this.

baroness goldie: ​Whilst we have not made any assessment and have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we continue to encourage all parties to work together to uphold the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, including Bab Al-Rahma.

Sudan: Demonstrations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to call for urgent action to bring the current violence in Sudan to an end and to protect the Sudanese civilian population and to establish an independent, international investigation into the use of force against protesters by the State Security Forces, and in particular the Rapid Support Forces.

baroness goldie: The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition, members of the protest movement as well as the Transitional Military Council (TMC). The UK, alongside Troika partners Norway and the US, has called for all sides to engage in an inclusive dialogue that leads to a swift, orderly and peaceful transition to civilian rule.On 4 June in a joint Troika statement, we condemned the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan which left many civilians dead or injured. We also expressed serious concern over TMC's announcement that it would cease negotiations and called for an agreed transfer of power to a civilian-led government. Our Embassy in Khartoum calls on members of the TMC both in public and directly, the steps that are needed to be taken to improve the situation in Sudan, including the release of all political detainees.We have expressed concerns at the past role of the Rapid Support Forces, along with other forces. We have been consistent in public and in private that there must be accountability for the crimes committed by members of the former regime. We condemn the recent violent attacks by Sudanese security forces against peaceful protestors in Sudan, which left many dead or injured. The TMC bears full responsibility. The UK, through the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) issued a statement on 17 June, which called for all human rights violations and abuses committed to be investigated in an independent and transparent manner, and perpetrators held accountable for their acts.On 6 June, the Minister for Africa summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of violence against civilians by the Sudanese authorities. The UK has called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people. We will continue to engage with all sides to support a settlement that works for all Sudanese people.

Sudan: Radicalism

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have on the number of Islamist extremists, including supporters of IS, who are now located in Sudan; and what strategy they have to ensure that Sudan does not become a base for violent Islamist extremist activity.

baroness goldie: We do not hold information on the number of Islamist extremists located and operating in Sudan. The British Government will continue to work with international partners to seek a sustainable long-term solution to the complex issue of suspected Daesh terrorists. We remain strongly committed to the objective of ensuring Daesh's enduring defeat. In addition we fully support the mediation efforts led by the African Union to secure a transition to a civilian-led authority in Sudan, which is vital to long term stability and to the building of democracy, which will in turn help prevent the proliferation of extremist groups and their ideology.

Israel: Arms Trade

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter from European researchers and academics on 4 June asking the European Union to impose a comprehensive military embargo on Israel as long as that country continues to violate human rights; whether they have responded to that letter; and if so, what was that response.

baroness goldie: ​We are aware of the letter that was sent to Federica Mogherini in June. Israel faces very real security threats. All countries, including Israel, have a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend their citizens from attack. We do not believe that imposing a blanket arms embargo would lead to progress in the peace process. The British Government takes its defence exports responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world. All applications for export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against strict criteria. We only approve equipment which is for Israel's legitimate self-defence.

Israel: West Bank

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the ambassador of the USA in Jerusalem that Israel has the right to retain parts, but not all, of the West Bank.

baroness goldie: Our position is well-known and has not changed. In line with international law, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, notably Resolutions 242 and 497, we do not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law. The UK has also reiterated our position at the UN Security Council, including with our Belgian, French, German and Polish colleagues on 26 March, and in the UN Security Council Chamber on 27 March. On 2 April, the Foreign Secretary also made clear the UK's position in the House of Commons confirming we view the annexation of territory by force as prohibited under international law.

Department of Health and Social Care

Health Professions: Regulation

lord macpherson of earl's court: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord O'Shaughnessy on 13 June 2018 (HL8293) andBaroness Manzoor on 29 January (HL12896), whether they have published a response to the consultationPromoting professionalism, reforming regulation.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The United Kingdom Government, along with the Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, consulted on high-level proposals to reform professional regulation of healthcare professions in the UK. Promoting professionalism, reforming regulation ran from 31 October 2017 to 23 January 2018.A response will be published shortly.

Department for International Development

Pakistan: Indigenous Peoples

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans the Department for International Development has to support the training of Kalash teachers in Pakistan to teach Kalash children their own history and culture.

baroness sugg: DFID Pakistan provides funding to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for education through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Support Programme (KESP). This includes different teacher professional development programmes (both pre and in-service). Three new teachers working in the Kalash area have participated in the KESP supported pre-service teacher professional development programme, and one of these teachers is Kalash. From April 2020, all teachers in Chitral will participate in the in-service continuous professional development programme, including those who work in schools in Kalash areas. The content of these training programmes is focused on pedagogy, classroom management, curriculum, and equity but does not specifically include teaching Kalash children their own history and culture. DFID Pakistan are in the process of designing a new programme for education support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which will have an inclusive education focus. One of the outcomes of the new programme will be to deliver equitable education for all children to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4. There will be an increased focus on marginalised children such as girls, children with disabilities and ethnic minorities. The programme will aim to provide inclusive and equitable education for all, and an improved learning environment for marginalised children. The programme will also set up model inclusive schools in pilot districts to cater to the needs of ethnic and religious minorities.

Burma: Armed Conflict

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in Kachin and Northern Shan States in Burma and the impact of the ongoing conflict in those states; and what representations they are making to the government of Burma to seek unconditional and unrestricted access to all areas for humanitarian aid and human rights monitoring organisations.

baroness sugg: The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing violence and continued lack of access in Kachin and Northern Shan States. Over 110,000 people remain displaced by conflict and within camps. We have committed £17 million to support the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and displaced in Kachin and Northern Shan through the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT). We have also committed a further £37 million to support live-saving interventions reaching over 350,000 people since 2012.The UK continues to raise our concerns with both the military and the civilian Government of Burma at every opportunity. The British Ambassador in Burma raised issues around access with U Kyaw Tin (Minister for International Cooperation) on 27 May.

Department for Education

English Language: Education

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the integration benefits to communities particularly in terms of integration of allowing asylum seekers to have access to free English language classes.

lord agnew of oulton: Through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), asylum seekers aged 19 or over are currently eligible to receive funding after they have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer and while their claim is being considered by the Home Office or are in the care of the local authority. If they have failed in their claim but are in appeal or have been granted support under the Immigration and Asylum Act (1999), they can still receive funding.Asylum seekers are not entitled to the same work-related benefits as those granted refugee status or humanitarian protection and therefore cannot access full funding for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses through the AEB. If they meet the criteria set out above, they will instead be co-funded 50% of the course cost. This is because not all those who make their own way to the UK to seek asylum will be found to be refugees and nearly all will have travelled through other safe countries to get to the UK. The government will continue to consider any new evidence put forward on this issue.From the start of the 2019/20 academic year approximately 50% of the AEB will be devolved to 6 Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). The MCAs and GLA will be responsible for commissioning and funding AEB provision, including ESOL, for learners that are resident in their areas who meet basic eligibility criteria. The Education and Skills Funding Agency will be responsible for funding AEB learners that are resident in non-devolved areas.

Free School Meals

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children of working parents who qualify for free school meals.

lord agnew of oulton: The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Free school meals are aimed at families who are out of work, and those in work with low earnings. For further information on the qualifying criteria, I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 18 June 2019 to Question HL15975, as attached.



HL16486_Reference_PQ_HL15975
(PDF Document, 77.17 KB)

Ministry of Justice

National Preventive Mechanism

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 4 June (HL15680), what is their response to the recommendations on the National Preventive Mechanism, made in the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee against Torture following its most recent periodic review of the UK.

lord keen of elie: The Government continues to comply with its obligations under the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, under which we established the independent National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in 2009. We note the recommendations made by the UN Committee Against Torture in relation to the NPM. We expect to provide a response on those issues as part of the next periodic report to the Committee Against Torture in May 2023. We will explore with the NPM how the issues raised by the Committee may be addressed. The department facilitates the laying in Parliament of the annual report of the NPM and acknowledges the helpful recommendations that it contains. The latest Written Ministerial Statement to this effect was laid before Parliament on 29 January 2019 (HLWS1249).

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Buildings: Inspections

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to address the availability of professional indemnity insurance for building safety inspectors.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Professional indemnity insurance for Approved Inspectors is principally a matter for the firms concerned and their insurers. We are aware that some firms are struggling to secure insurance, and we are working with Approved Inspectors and insurers to understand the issue and to consider whether and how we can help to overcome it.

Help to Buy Scheme

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of the comments of Peter Redfern, Chief Executive of Taylor Wimpey, about the Help to Buy Scheme.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Help to Buy: Equity Loan transactions are now around a third of new-build sales, yet they remain a small proportion of overall housing sales (less than 4%), so the scheme is unlikely to have a significant effect on house prices more generally.The latest independent evaluation of Help to Buy: Equity Loan (of 2015-17) found no evidence of a significant impact on prices overall.Since the launch of Help to Buy Equity Loan in April 2013, private housing starts are up by 52%.Help to Buy: Equity Loan has helped over 210,000 households buy a new-build home from its launch in spring 2013 until December 2018. All homes have been new–build, and 81% of sales have been to first-time buyers.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 6 June (HL15922), whether the information provided about deductions in the Universal Credit statement includes information about how much debt is left to pay and the recovery rate being applied.

baroness buscombe: This information is not currently included on a claimant’s Universal Credit statement. Under Universal Credit there is a structured and simplified approach to deductions from benefit. Claimants can view their Universal credit statement online to see how their award is calculated and a breakdown of what deductions are being made, supporting them to manage their financial obligations.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Plastic Bags

lord hayward: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of plastic bags which are supplied daily to customers by retail outlets in England not covered by the current single-use plastic bag charge.

lord hayward: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of plastic bags which would be supplied daily to customers by retail outlets in England if a 10p single-use plastic bag charge was introduced on all retail outlets not currently covered; and whether any such number represents a decline in the number of such bags supplied.

lord gardiner of kimble: The single use carrier bag (SUCB) policy has successfully contributed to a more than 80% reduction in the usage of SUCBs by large retailers. The policy excludes retailers with fewer than 250 employees from the charge. The Government estimates that 3.6 billion SUCBs were supplied by micro and small businesses (MSMEs) not covered by the charge in 2017 alone. We estimate that the policy to increase the charge to 10p would cause a decline in consumption of SUCBs in MSMEs (assumed to be 23% in the first year of change and 80% within three years (2020-2022)).

Plastic Bags

lord hayward: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many other countries operate (1) a ban, or (2) a partial ban or charge, on the use of single-use plastic bags.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government does not collect or hold this information. However, a summary of publicly available information is here:https://study.com/blog/which-countries-have-banned-plastic-bags.htmlhttp://www.bigfatbags.co.uk/bans-taxes-charges-plastic-bags/

Air Pollution: Health Hazards

the earl of dundee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of air pollution on public health; and whether they will legislate to introduce World Health Organisation air quality standards for fine particulate matter to protect thehealth of vulnerable people in the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: Our Clean Air Strategy (CAS) recognised the impacts that air pollution has on health, and proposed a range of actions to meet our existing emissions reduction commitments to 2020 and 2030 in order to reduce these impacts. The CAS also committed to the setting of an ambitious long term air quality target to reduce the population’s exposure to PM2.5, and committed to publishing evidence on the feasibility of meeting World Health Organisation air quality guideline levels of PM2.5. This work is ongoing and will be published in due course.

Home Office

Forced Marriage

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 16 May (HL15521), how many cases were dealt with by the Forced Marriage Unit in 2018.

baroness williams of trafford: Statistics on the number of cases dealt with by the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), including a breakdown by region and age, are published annually and available online at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage#statistics-on-forced-marriageFigures for 2018 were published on 24 May. In 2018, the FMU gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage in 1,764 cases via its public helpline and email inbox.



FGM Report-Stats 2018 
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Cabinet Office

Honours

lord blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of each category of honours were awarded in the Queen's Birthday Honours List to people in (1) Wales, (2) Scotland, (3) Northern Ireland, and (4) each of the regions of England, as a (a) number, and (b)percentage, of that country or region's population.

lord young of cookham: Statistical information held in relation to The Queen’s Birthday List 2019 can be found below. Information on the number of nominations by mayoral region is not captured, as we are not able to break down the data in that way.  RegionK LevelC LevelOBEMBEBEMTotal% of overall List% of the UK’s populationWales3352812514.75%4.8%Scotland21429413011610.81%8.2%Northern Ireland1241740645.96%2.9%East39163422847.83%9.3%East Midlands0232019444.10%7.2%London154156582919918.55%12.9%North East0121313292.70%4.1%North West14113332817.55%11.2%South East32135484415114.07%13.7&South West182642271049.69%8.4%West Midlands07131828666.15%8.9%Yorkshire and Humberside1653019615.68%8.4%

Honours

lord blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many honours were awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List to people in (1) London, and (2) each English city region that has a mayor, per head of populationof that city or region.

lord young of cookham: Statistical information held in relation to The Queen’s Birthday List 2019 can be found below. Information on the number of nominations by mayoral region is not captured, as we are not able to break down the data in that way.  RegionK LevelC LevelOBEMBEBEMTotal% of overall List% of the UK’s populationWales3352812514.75%4.8%Scotland21429413011610.81%8.2%Northern Ireland1241740645.96%2.9%East39163422847.83%9.3%East Midlands0232019444.10%7.2%London154156582919918.55%12.9%North East0121313292.70%4.1%North West14113332817.55%11.2%South East32135484415114.07%13.7&South West182642271049.69%8.4%West Midlands07131828666.15%8.9%Yorkshire and Humberside1653019615.68%8.4%

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

lord rogan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with preparations for the Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2022.

lord ashton of hyde: We are in the early stages of planning the Festival 2022 which will be led by a Festival Director who, once appointed, will work with their team and collaborate across the sectors to create a range of exciting events across the UK. The department is currently working through the delivery options, and we expect to share more details on the Festival later in the year.